Hand covering device

ABSTRACT

An article is disclosed to be worn on the hand comprising a palm covering member with which is associated a resilient body. Additionally, means are provided for securing the palm covering member and the resilient body to the hand of a wearer with the resilient body being placed adjacent the palm of the hand. The palm covering member may be integral with a glove to be worn on the hand or may be a member which is wrapped around the hand and secured thereto. In the embodiment where a glove is provided, the finger portions of the glove may be open-ended so as to permit the fingers to extend therethrough. One purpose of the device of the present invention is, when worn, to prevent an infant from picking up small articles that could prove dangerous to the infant because of sharp edges or the like on the article, or that could be placed into the mouth of the infant and prove dangerous when swallowed. As such, the resilient body used with the device of the present invention should be of sufficient size to prevent interaction between the thumb and fingers of the wearer necessary for the grasping and lifting of objects. The device of the present invention has other uses as will be elaborated on hereinafter.

United States atent [191 Irby [54] HAND COVERING DEVICE [76] Inventor:James E. Irby, Route 3, Box 145,

- Spartanburg, S.C. 29301 [22] Filed: Apr. 16, 1971 [21] Appl. No.:134,723

Primary Examiner-William E. Kamm Assistant Examiner-G; F. DunneAttorneyWellington M. Manning, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT An article is disclosed to be worn on the hand comprisinga palm covering member with which is associated a resilient body.Additionally, means are provided for securing the palm covering memberand the resilient body to the hand of a wearer with the resilient bodybeing placed adjacent the palm of the hand. The palm covering member maybe integral with a glove to be worn on the hand or may be a member whichis wrapped around the hand and secured thereto. In the embodiment wherea glove is provided, the finger portions of the glove may be open-endedso as to permit the fingers to extend therethrough. One purpose of thedevice of the present invention is, when worn, to prevent an infant frompicking up small articles that could prove dangerous to the infantbecause of sharp edges or the like on the article, or that could beplaced into the mouth of the infant and prove dangerous when swallowed.As such, the resilient body used with the device of the presentinvention should be of sufficient size to prevent interaction betweenthe thumb and fingers of the wearer necessary for the grasping andlifting of objects. The device of the present invention has other usesas will be elaborated on hereinafter.

13 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENIEUJUM 5 I975 3,736,926

INVENTOR.

FIG] JAMES E. IRBY AH'QR tY HAND COVERING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION The present invention is primarily directed to a device forthe protection of infants. In this regard, numerous devices have beenprovided to be worn on the hand of an infant or the mentally retarded soas to prevent the wearer from sucking his thumb or one or more of hisfingers and/or to prevent the individual from causing damage to the handor fingers. While some of these devices might inherently prevent thewearer from lifting articles, the devices have been cumbersome, bulkyand in general, completely cover the hand of the wearer so as to renderthe hand useless from a normal function standpoint.

The present invention, on the other hand, prevents the wearer from usingthe hands for lifting small objects that might be swallowed, while atthe same time permitting the individual to continually use his hands forcrawling, sitting up, lifting large objects or the like.

The prior art is devoid of any teaching of the present invention andlikewise is devoid of any suggestion of the present invention. Exemplaryof the prior art are U. S. Pat. Nos. 2,043,153 to Cox; Re. 20,858 toMoller; 2,139,897 to Kessler; 2,303,675 to Berghs; 2,783,759 to Hill,and 3,564,613 to Fowler.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention toprovide a device to be worn on the hand to prevent the wearer frompicking up small articles.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel type gloveto be worn on the hand.

Still further, another object of the present invention is to provide adevice to be worn on the hand to be used in the washing or polishing ofan automobile or the like.

Still further, another object of the present invention is to provide anovel device to be wrapped around the hand of an infant so as to preventthe infant from picking up small articles and putting same in its mouthor being harmed by same.

Generally speaking, the device of the present invention comprises a palmcovering member, means to secure said palm covering member to a hand anda resilient body associated with said palm covering member, saidresilient body being sufficient in size when secured to a hand toprevent normal interaction between a thumb and a finger of said handnecessary for grasping and lifting small objects.

More specifically, the device of the present invention encompasses anymember secured to the hand of a wearer that has associated therewith anenlarged resilient body located adjacent the palm of the hand, wherebythe wearer is precluded under normal circumstances from using his thumband fingers for the grasping and lifting of small objects.

The palm covering member may be a separate panel having straps or thelike which extend around the hand so as to secure themember to the hand.Moreover, the palm covering member may be integral with a glove that isfitted around the wearers hand. In the sense of the glove, the fingersmay be completely covered as with a normal glove or may be open-ended soas to permit the fingers to pass therethrough. Moreover, the glove maybe manufactured so as to permit ready circulation therethrough tofurther the comfort of the individual while wearing same. In thisregard, the glove may be designed like a half golf glove, in that,openended finger portions are provided with an open back and with astrap that passes around the hand adjacent the wrist so as to secure thedevice to the hand.

The resilient body may be any type means that is of a size sufficient topreclude normal interaction between the thumb and fingers while at thesame time remain resilient in such a fashion that if the individual isan infant and is trying to crawl, the resilient body will compress whenthe infants hands force same against the floor or crawling surface.Moreover, the enlarged body is resilient to prevent harm to theindividual from hitting himself with the open palm. The resilient bodywould thus cushion the shock from such a blow. Preferred forms of theresilient body are polymeric foam such as a polyurethane that issemi-rigid, hollow spherical or hemispherical objects and coil springs.In the event a coil spring is used, obviously it should be separatelyenclosed so as to prevent damage to the hand when worn and also so as toprevent the coil spring from passing through the material from which thepalm covering member is manufactured, normally a fabric.

While the device of the present invention is an excellent means toprevent an infant or mentally retarded individual from picking upobjects and putting same in its mouth, it likewise provides a gooddevice to be used in the cleansing, polishing or the like of cars,boats, trucks and the like. In this sense, a polymeric or natural spongemay be provided in the palm area and the palm covering member may be asdescribed before. As such, the sponge is attached to the hand so as toeliminate the inadvertent dropping thereof and also so as to permitrelaxing of the hand of the individual using same. Moreover, in thesense ofa glove, the hand and knuckles of the wearer may be protectedagainst damage caused by striking a portion of the article being washed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a deviceaccording to the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a further embodiment of a device accordingto the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an end view of a device according to the teachings of thepresent invention as shown in FIG. 1 and then along lines IIIIII.

FIG. 4 is an end view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 as might be seenalong lines IV-IV.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of still another embodiment of a deviceaccording to the teachings of the present invention shown on a hand.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view ofa device according to the teachingsof the present invention showing the resilient body extending downwardlytherefrom.

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view ofa device according to the teachingsof the present invention showing a further embodiment of the resilientbody.

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view ofa device according to the teachingsof the present invention showing still further, another embodiment ofthe resilient body.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the Figures,specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described.

FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 illustrate one embodiment of the present invention. Aglove generally indicated as 10 is shown having a palm covering member12 that is integral with the glove. Other portions of the glove includea top portion (not shown), a wrist portion 16 and a plurality of fingerportions 18. As best shown in FIG. 3, a

resilient body 20 is shown positioned under palm covering member 12 soas to reside between member 12 and the palm of the hand.

FIGS. 2 and 4 show a further embodiment of the device according to theteachings of the present invention. In FIG. 2, a palm covering member112 is shown having side members 113 and 113' extending from oppositesides thereof. Additionally, a wrist member 114 is shown secured to oneend of palm covering member 112 and extending outwardly therefrom. Wristmember 114 likewise has a plurality of side members 115 and 115 securedthereto and extending outwardly therefrom. Side members 113 and 113 and115 and 115' provide means for securing palm covering member 112 to ahand. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, strips ofVelcro," a system offilamentary hooks 116 that attach themselves to a mat of filamentarymaterial 116 on an opposite side are provided for securing opposite sidemembers to each other. Hence, the hook elements 116 are provided on theside members 113' and 115' while the mat of filamentary material 116' isprovided on the opposite side of side members 113 and 115 whereby sidemembers 113 and 113' are wrapped over and around the hand of the wearer,and when pressure is applied thereto, the hooks 116 of the attachingmeans become embedded in the mat 116' so as to secure side member 113 toside member 113'. A like action with respect to side members 115 and115i is provided when the members are wrapped around the wrist of thewearer and pressure is applied thereto.

Though the Velcro type fastening means are illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4,any other suitable fastening arrangement may be provided such as by wayof example, buttons, hook and eye combination, buckles and the like. Asshown in FIG. 4, the resilient body 120 is an absorbent material such asa mass of sponge which may be a natural or a synthetic sponge having anopencelled structure. In this embodiment, the wearer is not required topass his fingers through finger portions as was the case in FIGS. )1 and3. Instead, the device is merelywrapped around the hand and securedthereto. The fingers extend naturally beyond the palm covering memberwhile the thumb extends around the palm covering member. This particularembodiment is quite suitable not only for preventing an individual fromusing his thumb and fingers for lifting small objects, but also is quitesuitable for use in the washing of automobiles or the like. As such,when the device is wrapped around the hand of the wearer, the sponge isprovided on the underside of the hand and may be used as desired by theindividual for the washing of an object. Once the sponge is saturatedwith dirty water or cleanser, a simple squeezing of the hand will expelthe excess liquid from the pores of the sponge. The wearer canthereafter dip the hand into the soapy water or the like, again squeezeand expel further dirty water and sediment from the device. Further,clean soapy water may then be applied by a mere dipping and the articlemay be used as desired for further cleansing of the particular object.When the device of the present invention is used for washing, polishingor the like, palm covering member 112 may be constructed of a doublethickness with one end of the top layer of material 112' palm coveringfree whereby a pocket is formed for receiving a sponge. New spongescould then be inserted in place of old sponges. Further, the spongecould be removed for cleaning the device once it becomes soiled fromwashing automobiles or the like.

FIG. 5 shows still a further embodiment of the pres ent invention wherethe palm covering member (not shown) is integral with a half-glovegenerally indicated as 310. The half-glove provides a plurality offinger portions 318 having open ends through which the fingers F extend.Moreover, the top of the glove is open as defined by edge 319 and theglove is provided with a strap 315 which extends around the wrist of theindividual and is secured to a further member 315 by suitable fasteningmeans 316.

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 represent side views of devices according to theteachings of the present invention, and though shown in the form ofgloves having palm covering members 412, 512 and 612, and fasteningmembers 416, 516 and 616, respectively, could be presented as theembodiment shown in FIG. 5 or any other suitable arrangement. In FIG. 6,the palm covering member 412 is shown to have a resilient body 420 inthe form of a mass of rubber. In FIG. 7, the palm covering member 518 isshown to have a resilient body 520 in the form of a coil spring. Asmentioned hereinbefore, when the coil spring or similar type resilientbody is employed, it is necessary that it be enclosed in a covering 521to prevent damage to the wearer. FIG. 8 shows a rounded palm coveringmember 612 having a resilient body 620 received therein. In thisembodiment, the resilient body 620 is shown as a ball type device whichmaybe hollow or solid as desired so long as the resiliencycharacteristic is present.

In addition to the functional aspects of the device of the presentinvention as hereinbefore described, obviously other attachments may beprovided therefor in the form of rattles, toys or the like so as toamuse as infant if the device is used by an infant to prevent hispicking up small articles. Furthermore, the right hand and left handembodiments are likewise encompassed within the teachings of the presentinvention.

Insofar as materials of construction are concerned, fabric is preferablyemployed for the palm covering member in all the embodiments shownthough other materials such as plastic, non-Wovens, and the like may beemployed if desired. In the sense of fabric, depending upon theparticular use of the device, a woven fabric may be employed or aknitted stretch material may be employed. Hence the device of thepresent invention may be manufactured in various sizes or may bemanufactured to permit the device to fit various size hands.

Having described the present invention in detail, it is obvious that oneskilled in the art will be able to make variations and modificationsthereto without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly,the scope of the present'invention should only be determined by theclaims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

l. A device to be worn on the hand comprising:

a. a palm covering member;

b. means to secure said palm covering member to a hand:

c. means limiting interaction between the thrumb and figers of said handto prevent grasping and lifting comprising:

an enlarged mass of semi-resilient material attached to said palmcovering member, said resilient member being of appreciable thicknessand having an area substantially equivalent to the area of said palmcovering member, whereby interaction between the tumb and fingers ofsaid hand for grasping and lifting is prevented.

2. A device to be worn on the hand as defined in claim 1 wherein saidpalm covering member securing means comprise at least one strapextending outwardly therefrom, said strap extending at least partiallyaround a hand and being secured thereat.

3. A device to be worn on the hand as defined in claim 1 wherein saidpalm covering member forms a part of a glove which secures same to ahand.

4. A device to be worn on the hand as defined in claim 3 wherein saidglove has a plurality of finger receiving portions thereon.

5. A device to be worn on the hand as defined in claim 4 wherein saidfinger portions are open at their outer ends.

6. A- device to be worn on the hand as defined in claim 1 wherein saidpalm covering member has a wrist member secured thereto.

7. A device to be worn on the hand as defined in claim 6 wherein saidwrist member is provided with further means to secure same around awrist.

8. A device to be worn on the hand as defined in claim 7 whereinsecuring means for said palm covering member and said wrist membercomprise straps extending outwardly therefrom, said straps havingattachment means received thereon whereby said straps can each besecured to a strap opposite thereto.

9. A device to be worn on the hand as defined in claim 1 wherein saidsemi-resilient material is a hollow sphere.

10 A device to be worn on the hand as defined in claim 1 wherein saidsemi-resilient material is a coil spring.

11. A device to be worn on the hand as defined in claim 1 wherein saidsemi-resilient material is a polymeric foam material.

12. A device to be worn on the hand as defined in claim 1 wherein saidsemi-resilient material is a sponge.

13. A device to be worn on the hand as defined in claim 1 wherein thesemi-resilient member is absorbent.

1. A device to be worn on the hand comprising: a. a palm coveringmember; b. means to secure said palm covering member to a hand: c. meanslimiting interaction between the thrumb and figers of said hand toprevent grasping and lifting comprising: an enlarged mass ofsemi-resilient material attached to said palm covering member, saidresilient member being of appreciable thickness and having an areasubstantially equivalent to the area of said palm covering member,whereby interaction between the tumb and fingers of said hand forgrasping and lifting is prevented.
 2. A device to be worn on the hand asdefined in claim 1 wherein said palm covering member securing meanscomprise at least one strap extending outwardly therefrom, said strapextending at least partially around a hand and being secured thereat. 3.A device to be worn on the hand as defined in claim 1 wherein said palmcovering memBer forms a part of a glove which secures same to a hand. 4.A device to be worn on the hand as defined in claim 3 wherein said glovehas a plurality of finger receiving portions thereon.
 5. A device to beworn on the hand as defined in claim 4 wherein said finger portions areopen at their outer ends.
 6. A device to be worn on the hand as definedin claim 1 wherein said palm covering member has a wrist member securedthereto.
 7. A device to be worn on the hand as defined in claim 6wherein said wrist member is provided with further means to secure samearound a wrist.
 8. A device to be worn on the hand as defined in claim 7wherein securing means for said palm covering member and said wristmember comprise straps extending outwardly therefrom, said straps havingattachment means received thereon whereby said straps can each besecured to a strap opposite thereto.
 9. A device to be worn on the handas defined in claim 1 wherein said semi-resilient material is a hollowsphere. 10 A device to be worn on the hand as defined in claim 1 whereinsaid semi-resilient material is a coil spring.
 11. A device to be wornon the hand as defined in claim 1 wherein said semi-resilient materialis a polymeric foam material.
 12. A device to be worn on the hand asdefined in claim 1 wherein said semi-resilient material is a sponge. 13.A device to be worn on the hand as defined in claim 1 wherein thesemi-resilient member is absorbent.